iDVR-PRO CCTV DVRs support one or more video spot monitor outputs depending on the model. A spot monitor outputs allow you to connect a monitor via BNC connectors and coaxial cable to the DVR to display custom camera views. These outputs are separate / in addition to the VGA and HDMI video outputs on the DVR. The below image shows the back of the iDVR-PRO16H model DVR. This 16 camera DVR has 5 spot monitor outputs in addition to the VGA and HDMI video outputs. Each of the 4 BNC video outputs noted as item #3 and the 1 BNC output noted as item #10 are all spot monitor outputs. #9 and #11 note the HDMI and VGA video outputs. You can find all
iDVR-PRO 960H / HD Hybrid CCTV DVRs here.

Spot Monitor Setup Instructions

Using a USB Mouse, left click the
Menu button in the lower left portion of the screen. Then locate and click System Setup. (Shown Below)

Next, on the system setup screen click on Display, then Spot Out.

The below screenshot shows the spot out configuration screen on a iDVR-PRO16H DVR. We are using this model for these instructions because it has the most spot outputs - 5 total. Notice there are two tabs on the screen below. The Spot - 4 Division tab contains configuration links to the 4 ouputs that each support 1 and 4 camera grid views. The Spot - 16 Division tab is to configure the one spot output on the iDVR-PRO16H that supports 9 and 16 camera views as well. The 8 channel iDVR-PRO8H has (2) 4 division spot outputs and (1) 9 division (which actually displays 8 cameras). The A series iDVR-PROs (iDVR-PRO4A, iDVR-PRO8A, and iDVR-PRO16A) all have of one spot monitor output that supports 1 and 4 division (4 camera grid views).

Users can configure any of the spot outputs by double-clicking and on the number that they want to configure and clicking on modify.

Below you can see the screen where the custom view types can be configured for a spot monitor out. In this case, we are configuring the 16 division output. Notice that there are 16 screens available to configure and that only 4 of them are configured - (1) 16 camera screen, (2) 4 camera screens, and (1) single camera screen.

You can edit any of these by clicking on them or add additional views / screens by clicking on the Add View Type button.

If you choose to add view type or to edit an existing one, the below screen is displayed which lets you choose which view type you want this screen to be. In this case, you can choose 1, 4, 9, or 16 camera views. Then you can configure which camera(s) are in this view. Again, keep in mind that only the iDVR-PRO16H has a 16 camera view option, the iDVR-PRO8H has a 9 camera option and all of the A model iDVR-PROs have 4 camera view types.

Please note: if you do not want the view to change and you constantly want a single view displayed on the screen, simply configure just one view. For example, you can configure the iDVR-PRO16H to constantly display a grid view of 16 cameras.

You click confirm to add or finish editing the view, then close. Last, click on apply to save the settings.

If you choose to setup 2 or more camera views in any of the spot monitor settings, you can also specify how much time should pass before the monitor output changes to the next view. For example, if you setup (4) views on spot monitor output 1, the DVR will pause for a certain number of seconds before changing to the next view and when the last view is displayed, the cycle starts over and the first view is displayed again. This is known as dwell time.

You can setup the number of second of display for each view by selecting the monitor option on the left menu. Then, click on the up and down arrows next to the spot dwell field. The DVR supports 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 60 second dwell times (delay between views switching).

When you are done, click on the Apply button, then Close.

Connect to Monitor or TV

All of the spot monitor outputs on the iDVR-PRO are BNC type. You can connect these directly to a
BNC monitor using RG59 jumper cables. You can also connect these outputs to any HD TV that has composite RCA video input (almost all still do). In addition to the RG59 jumper cable, you will also need a BNC to RCA connector for the TV side of the cable.

Request a Demo

If you do not currently have an iDVR-PRO and would like to log in to the demo unit at our office, please request a demo login below. You will be able to login from iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices. You can also login from Macintosh and Windows computers. Please
click here to request a demo login.

Complete CCTV Systems

Did you know? CCTV Camera Pros can provide a complete surveillance system quote that includes any iDVR-PRO model with cameras, cables, connectors, power supplies, and monitors? We can even mix and match SD and HD security cameras because the latest iDVR-PROs are hybrid. They work with CCTV, AHD, and HD-TVI type cameras. As you have probably already seen on our website, we have 2, 4, 8, and 16 camera surveillance systems in pre-made packages. However, it is not possible for us to package up every combination and quantity of all the different camera models that we carry. So, we can also provide you with a custom quote with as many cameras as you need and a mix of any combination of camera model(s) based on your project requirements.

About the Author

This article was written by
Mike Haldas, co-founder and managing partner of CCTV Camera Pros. If you have any questions about iPhone security camera app for iDVR, please email me at mike@cctvcamerapros.net.

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